Unfortunatelly aging often shows the first signs in the forehead and brow area. Skin begins to loose its elasticity. Sun exposure and other enviromental factors, and the gravity all affect the face, resulting in forehead and frown lines, increasing heaviness of the eyebrows. Even people in their thirties may have a look tired, sad and older. The forehead lift operation remowes the wrinkles and gives a refreshed look.
There are different techniques according to the incision placement. Classic approach is done via a coronal incision 2 cm behind the hairline. Incision can be in the hairline for some patients. If short incisions are used just on the sides, its called the minibrow lift. With the endoscopic surgery, there'll be very short incisions about 1 cm behind the hairline. Each technique has advantages and disadvantages, varying according to the patients anatomy and hairline. The best approach to lift the brow and the incision location is determined by your surgeon after examining you and discussing with you the various options. While all the various procedures will raise the brow and smooth the forehead, some can even lower a high hairline and improve facial balance and harmony.
A forehead lift commonly done along with facelift surgery for an optional result. During the consultation you should discuss your expectations. This procedure can also be done together with upper eye lid operation, or instead of the upper eyelid operation in whom main problem is severe droopiness of the forehead.
Getting prepared for the operation: blood tests must be done, medications for chronic problems you’re on should be estimated with your surgeon and your doctor dealing with, smoking must be stopped, aspirin, vitamin E, gingko and ginseng containing stuff and certain anti-inflammatory drugs that can increase bleeding should be avoided.
Forehead lift operationt takes between one to two hours. It is most commonly performed under general or twilight anesthesia. It may be longer if combined with facelift or other procedures. After the administration the anesthesia, forehead skin is lifted form underlying muscles via the planned incision. Some overactive muscles may be destructed to prevent wrinkles. Skin flap is pulled back and up, excess part is removed in open surgeries, but not in the endoscopic approach. Wounds are closed with stitches, generally dissolving ones which don't need to be removed. Dressings and bandage will be applied to cover the wounds.
After recovering from the anesthesia you may experience slight pain and mainly discomfort. You will have a certain amount of swelling and bruising in the first 7-10 days following the surgery. In some patients, this condition may include the cheek and eye area as well as the forehead. You will be advised to keep your head elevated in order to reduce swelling. Cold compression may reduce swelling. As the incisions heal, you may have some numbness as well as itching, which will diminish with time. If bandages have been used, they are removed in one to three days. It is important to follow the advice of your surgeon on resuming normal activities. For most patients, the recovery time will not exceed two weeks, but patients may still be advised to avoid strenuous activities for longer periods. In the early period face may look different, mimetic movements can be rough, ant this may take a couple of months to heal. Any prolonged bruising can be camouflaged with standard make-up techniques.
Forehead lift risks include: anesthesia risks, bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, hair and skin loss, facial nerve injury with weakness, temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions, fluid accumulation, numbness or other changes in skin sensation, persistent pain, unfavorable scarring, prolonged swelling, skin irregularities and discoloration, sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal, unsatisfactory results may include: asymmetry, unsatisfactory surgical scar location and unacceptable visible deformities at the ends of the incisions. (It may be necessary to perform an additional surgery to improve your results), deep vein thrombosis, life threatening cardiac and pulmonary complications.
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your cosmetic surgeon.
